(photo of the trench outside of the building where we found our problem)

Upon revelation of Orangeburg pipe under our building (and connecting to the sewer line) construction has come to a screeching stop. Haven’t heard of Orangeburg pipes? Neither had we.

Orangeburg pipe is comprised of cellulose fibers impregnated with hot coaltar pitch. The pipe often softens and deforms with age, allowing infiltration and root intrusion. It basically collapses, and so when this type of pipe is discovered, it needs to be replaced.

Of course, this was completely unforeseen, and certainly not in our plans or budget. The entire dining room needs to be trenched, the pipes removed and replaced, and then patched up again.

This is a problem. A very expensive problem to the tune of over eight grand.

As Oscar (the guy in the photo at the top) said upon finding these pipes, “The price of pizza just went up.”